Major Lyft app update pushes carpooling and public transport features

These include a new ride-sharing category called Lyft Shared Rides, better integration with public transport, and a “one tap to ride” feature.

The update is already live for some users and will roll out widely by the end of the month.

Lyft has unveiled a new version of its app that will improve the ride-sharing service and provide better integration with public transport. The app is now live and, according to a blog post on the Lyft website (via The Verge), it will be rolled out by the end of June.

The biggest change is Lyft Shared Rides which is essentially a rebrand of Lyft’s existing carpooling service, Line. Shared Rides will now sit in a more prominent location within the app and Lyft hopes that the service will account for 50 percent of all trips on the platform by the end of 2020 in an effort to reduce the company’s overall carbon footprint.

The other major change is in the way the app integrates with public transport. This should help customers better plan their journeys utilizing both Lyft and existing transport options. Lyft says that it already has partnerships with 25 cities in the U.S. to provide this service.

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Other new features include “one tap to ride” that lets users quickly request frequent ride types and destinations, as well as suggestions for better pick-up and drop-off points in busy areas. Lyft said that in testing in San Francisco, 20,000 pickups were diverted to safer spots due to the suggestions.

The Lyft update reflects an industry pattern as companies move away from being simple ride-sharing apps and towards visions that incorporate more kinds of public transportation. Uber’s latest update let users book dockless bikes in some areas and the company is also looking to provide public transportation services through the app.